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Family friendly travelling in Toronto

Most popular areas in Toronto for family-friendly hotels

Whether you come in search of family bed and breakfasts or large-scale hotels with easy access to Hogtown's best-known attractions, Toronto has something to suit. Take the area of Church and Wellesley, close to the middle of Old Toronto. Here, eco-friendly hotels and traditional redbrick townhouses host clean and quality accommodations. Then there are the options close to the sports halls, parks, and aquariums of the Entertainment Area – all large, affordable and just a short walk from the attractions. There are also countless family-friendly hotels close to the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Top family-friendly hotels in Toronto

Historic, luxurious and – thanks to its 150-year experience as a hotel – no doubt used to family travelers, the Fairmont Royal York is unsurprisingly one of the top choices for visitors with kids. It's got a luxurious pool, filling breakfast options, and unrivalled access to Union Station for those out-of-town excursions. For something a little easier on the wallet, consider the Novotel Toronto, which also has a pool, a gym, and a series of connecting rooms for families. If it's views, edgy style, and access to hockey games you're after, consider the opulent Shangri-la hotel.

Where to find the best restaurants in Toronto

For sweet cakes and independent bakeries, Spanish tapas and hearty pub food, make a beeline for the revived Distillery Historic District – there are regular live music shows and art exhibits to keep all members of the family entertained. On the other side of town comes West Queen West, where bohemian coffee shops mingle with graffiti-decorated, back-alley joints and the menus beckon with stacked American burgers and thin-crust pizzas. The Toronto Harbourfront and Queens Quay have a clutch of great family restaurants, with chain names and Irish-style pubs the norm.

The most unique things to do in Toronto

Kids will love the vertigo-inducing panoramas from atop the soaring viewing platforms of the CN Tower, not to mention the daring glass floor installation that puts just 2 inches between you and a 342-meter drop. The Toronto Zoo is also great for families, complete with endangered pandas, roaring lions, monkeys, rhinos, and more. When it comes to seeing the sights, you can either opt for a classic free walking tour through the heart of Old Toronto, or opt for something themed, like the spooky ghost walk through the Distillery District – whichever you think the kids would prefer. And – of course – let's not forget Toronto's location just across the water from the bucket-list-busting Niagara Falls. Family day trips can be organized from most hotels to the boardwalks and lookouts on the Canadian side of the wonder.

Best ways to get around Toronto

Perhaps the best way to flit around town as a family is on the rattling, historic Toronto tramways – they are both fun and connect all of the major points in Old Toronto. The metro lines and so-called Rapid Transit lines are more efficient, and there are family tickets available to keep costs down. For travel outside of the city, and for connections to Toronto Zoo, you'll need to utilize the GO Transit network. Taxis and rental cars aren't recommended on account of the city's traffic and lack of central parking.